Strip advancing means for counting and recording mechanisms



Sept. 28, 1954 J. F. BOWERS STRIP ADVANCING MEANS FOR COUNTING ANDRECORDING MECHANISMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed May 25, 1950 Sept.28, 1954 J. F. BowERs 2,690,117

STRIP ADVANCING MEANS FOR COUNTING AND RECORDING MECH Original Filed May25. 1950 ANISMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENToR JAMA-IS E .San/5.65

Patented Sept. 278, 1954 2,690,117 STRIP ADVANCING MEANS FQRUGUNTING ANDRECORDING MECI'IANI-SMS- James F. Bowers, Memphis',

forty-nine per` cent to Daniel Richard 0. Wilson Original application164,091. Divided an 20, 1951, Serial No. 242,773

8 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in meansfor synchronized strip advancement adapted particularly for use withprinting means associa-ted with counting and recording mechanisms. Morep-articularly this invention relates to means for advancing strips suchas elongated paper for receiving printed records and inking ribbons usedtherewith in synchronism with the printing motion of the printing means,the present means being activated by the motion imparted to the printingmeans. This invention further relates to' strip advancing means whichare so constructed and arranged as to eiect disengagement after'predetermined advancement to prevent undesired shift or advancement ofthe strip means.

This application is a division of co-pending application, Serial No.164,091, filed May 25, 1950.

The principal .object of the present invention is to provide incombination with printing means as for counting and recording mechanismsa novel mechanism and arrangement for eiecting .shift or a recordreceiving strip and ofy an inking strip, including means for disengagingthe shifting relation after predetermined strip advancement has beenaccomplished, Y

A further object of the invention-is to provide in combination with anoscillatable assembly for supporting .and moving a record` receivingstrip andl an: inking strip into printing engagement with.. indiciabearingmeans, pawl-and ratchet `means effective upon assemblyoscillationto-shift the strips,.which include pawl-carriedmeans forcamming by engaging -t-he ratchet means to .effeet disengagement of thepaw-1 means from the ratchet means to interrupt suchshift- A furtherobject of the invention is to provide inV a ratchet engaging pawl a camportion for contacting the periphery of the ratchetv during Aswingingmovement of the ratchet to interrupt paWl engagement.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide a` newv and novelarrangement of strip shifting means, including means for interruptingsuch shifting.

A fur-ther object of the inventionis to provide, .in combination `withcounting means having printingrecordsreceivingmeans, means for shiftingthe record receiving means of a new vand novel character.-

A. further object of the inventionis to Agenerally improve the design,construction-and.eiIiciency-,oi` strip shifting means for use inconnection with recordlprinting means.

vThe .means by which the foregoing/and other objects of the present'invention are accomplished ay 25, 1950, seri'ar No. athis applicationAugust (Cl, lOl-L96) 2 and thev manner -oftheir accomplishment willreadily be Aunderstood from the following specication upon referencet'o'the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a' front vView of a counting and recording mechanism,incorporating the present invention with the front wall removed forpurposes of illustration.

Fig.l 2 is a 'View similar to Fig. 1, illustrating the present inventionwith the printing mecha'- nism in lowered`` rest position.

Fig. 3 is'l a fragmentary front view with certainv parts removed forillustration.

Referring vnow to the drawings, the present invention is preferablyhoused in a casing, includ'- ing'a top 21', vbottom 22, rear wall 23,and side walls'24, 25,4 with` closure of the front of the device beingpreferably effected by a retainer wall 26 which extends' from top tobottom and side to side.

The` front vand rear walls are interconnected by upper and lower barswhich extend respectively' through the' front and rear walls and arepreferably secured in place by suitable nuts, these bars including upperbars 29.

The present invention is illustrated in conjunction with a countingandrecording mechanism of the character described in the abovementioned' co-pending' application, which includes a plurality of numberwheels 81, each provided with embossed or raised figures mounted as upona shaft T3.

Mounted in the casing and underlying the number wheelsis the printingmechanism, which includes a pan 1:51 disposed transversely of the casingand supported adjacent one side of the casingv by a rod 155'3`exte'ndingbetween and secured to the front and` rear retainer wallsZS, 2l. Rod 153passes through a pair of opposite substantially vertically 'disposedIiiangesV 155 forming the front andv rear portions ofv pan 151, andv thepan is rockably supported upon rod |-53'f as a pivot. The top of theypan is formedof a flat plate-like member 151 which extends betweenlianges 155fand from which anges 155 depend. Adjacent the pivot rod-153, topplate |51' is continued in a downwardly and transverselyextending arcuate portion' F59y adapted to serve as a support for a rollof record receiving strip, such as paper 161 at'one side of pan' 151. Atits remote end roll supporti 159 is preferably provided-'with aresilient .member- I-'II- which-is adapted to overlie and contactonesideof paper roll-1 Bland by its resiliency is urgedinto contact so as toserve as a retainer for thepaperrolh Y Depending pan `flanges arecontinued be,-

`vond the arcuate roll support portion |59 of pan top |51 by sections|13, fiange sections |13 respectively lying along the front and rear ofsupporting section |59 and serving as limits against forward or rearwardmovement of paper roll it Pan plate |51 extends in the oppositedirection beneath number wheels 8 i and beyond the number wheels isprovided with a transverse slot |15 which is adapted to receive and havethreaded therethrough a length of strip |16 from paper strip roll iti.Beyond slots |15, pan is provided with 4a cover portion |11 which ispreferably offset upwardly from the plane of plate |51 and otherwiseextends between and is secured to pan flanges |55.

Intermediate the length of pan flanges |55 an abutment, preferably a bar|19 forming part of the pan assembly preferably is provided, the barextending between and being rigidly secured to the respective front andrear pan flanges. Abutment bar |19 is positioned to lie verticallybeneath the axis of shaft 13 by which the number wheels are carried.Substantially midway of the length of pan |5| a resilient platen member|8|, as of rubber or similar material, is fixed to the upper face of panplate |51 and extends from front to rear thereof underlying numberwheels S and lyingbetween the Ipan plate and the number wheels.Underlying cover member |11 and substantially in engagement therewithare a plurality of friction rollers |83, mounted upon and secured to ashaft |235 journalled in pan flanges |55. Rollers |83 are adapted toserve as feed rollers for paper strip lle from paper roll lti and therollers and cover |11 are arranged so that paper strip |1B may be fedtherebetween and the frictional engagement of the underside of paperstrip |1i by the friction rollers against the under side of cover |11enables the rollers upon rotation of shaft |35 to effect advancement ofthe paper |16.

Below pan l5! and in vertical alinement with shaft 13 and pan bar |19, ashaft |89 is journalled in front and rear retainer walls 26, 21. Carriedby and fixed to shaft |89 are front and rear earn members |9| whichunderlie and support pan bar |19 effecting support of pan |5|intermediate its length. Intermediate front and rear cam members N5 arepositioned respectively rearwardly and forwardly of front and rear camsiill and are independently supported from shaft it. To one of the cams|95, an arm |51 is integrally secured, which are, at its lower end, iscoupled to the armature of a solenoid |99. Soleu noid |95? is preferablyrockably mounted upon a rod 2M secured to and extending between frontand rear retainer walls 25, 21, and solenoid |953 is further coupledelectrically, as by leads 203, to a source of energization. One end oftension spring 2te is coupled to cam arm |91, the opposite end of thespring being suitably attached to the casing as by attachment to a bar291 and consequently urges movement of arm |91 toward bar 2&1.

A pair of ink ribbon rolls 258 are turn-ably supported by brackets 2tlg,2|@ above the level of pan |5|, brackets 209, 2li] being preferablyattached to pan flanges |55. A ribbon strip 2| l, inked in conventionalfashion, which is carried by the ribbon rolls 268, passes beneath thenumber wheels 8| and overlies paper strip |18 from paper roll itl, paperstrip HE being interposed between ribbon strip 2| and platen member |81.Ribbon rolls 253 are each suitably supported upon 4 rods or shaftsjournalled respectively 299, 2MB.

Adjacent forward pan iange |55 and lying between the pan flange and knob|81 a ratchet 2|?) is 'Fixed to feed roll shaft |35. A pawl 22|, pivotedupon a pin 233 carried by forward wall 2S, is urged toward engagementwith ratchet 2 i 9 by a spring 225, and normally lies in engagement withthe teeth of ratchet EIS and is adapted to maintain pawl engagement withratchet 2|@ so as, upon upward movement of pan lti, to effect rotationof feed roll shaft |85 and rollers |83 carried thereby, thus eectingadvancement of paper strip i'it from roll |5| during pan raising. Pawl22| is provided with a cam in the form of an intermediate enlarged bulgeportion 22|A which is bulged toward feed roll shaft |65 and ratchet 2 5so that upon continued upward movement of pan lEi, beyond paper stripadvancement, ratchet 2|@ is moved into contact with bulge portion 22|Aof pawl 22|, thereby cammingly removing pawl 22| from engagement withratchet 2li?, interrupting the advancement of paper strip |16.

A pawl 221, oivotally mounted upon a pin 22g also secured to front wall25, normally lies in engagement with a ratchet fdl, carried by theribbon roll shaft which is journalled in bracket fifi. Ribbon roll pawl2221 is formed similarly to pawl 22| of the paper feed to include a camin the form of an enlarged bulge portion 221A and is urged by a spring233 into engagement with ratchet '23| in normal position of pan |5|.Ratchet is carried forward of bracket 2li) and between that bracket andfront wall 2E. The ribbon roll pawl and ratchet arrangement is adaptedsimilarly to the paper strip feed pawl and ratchet arrangement to effectadvancement ci the ribbon strip 2H upon upward movement of pan |5| andas the pan is continued in its upward movement ratchet 23| is moved intocontact with pawl cam portion 221A, camming pawl 221 out of engagementwith ratchet 23|, thereby interrupting the advancement of ribbon stri-p2| I.

In the employment of the printing mechanism solenoid |99 is normallypositioned in deenergized condition with its armature extended. Uponenergization of solenoid |99 through leads 2t3, as upon the occurrenceof the energization of the machine or other instrumentality with whichthe mechanism is employed, the solenoid armature is retracted inconventional fashion moving through the position shown in Fig. 1 to theposition shown in Fig. 2. As the solenoid armature is thus retracted,cam arm |91 is moved therewith effecting rotation of cams it, which camsacting upon pan Eel through bar |19 effect raising of the bar and of thepan iiil to which the bar is rigidly fixed, moving pan plate |51, platenNil, and paper strip |16 upwardly, bringing the paper into underlyingcontact with ribbon strip 2| and moving thence int-o engagement with theraised figures carried by the number wheels 8|. In this manner a printis made of the record at the instant upon which the mechanism or machinewith which the instrumentalities are being employed is first energized.Similarly at the end of the run or upon other deenergization of themachine or other instrumentality with which the present invention isbeing employed occurs, solenoid |99 upon such deenergization releasesits retracting action upon its armature, and arm |91 is returned bytension spring 205 to its initial position with the armature of thesolenoid extended. As the arm |91 is thus returned by spring in bracketsasco-,1 rv

205, cams |95 are .again moved beneath barA |19 and again effect upwardmovement-of thebar and of pan |5|, again effecting printing of therecord as it exists at the time of such deenergization.

If normal printing is desired shaft |89 may be rotated causing cams 9|to act `upon `bar |19 raising pan |5| and paper strip |16 into printingposition, the existing record being thus printed onpaper strip |16.

It will be seen that in each instance printing `is accomplished by camraising or oscillation of ypan 5 to` carry paper strip |16 into printingengagement with ribbon strip 2| and the lnumber wheels. In the mannerdescribed above shift of the ribbon strip 2| and of paper strip |16 is.accomplished on each raising of pan |=5| through lthe engagement ofratchet 23| with pawl 221 andfof ratchet 2 |9 with pawl 22|. It will beseen .that this paper and ribbon shift is accomplished, as described,during the initial portion of pan raising and is completed prior toprinting contact, the pawls being disengaged by the interaction of thepawl cams 221A and 22 IA respectively with 'the periphery of theratchets so that further shift is -prevented until the pan has beenvreturned to normal lowered position for subsequent operation, at whichtime cam engagement with the ratchets is broken and springs 225, 233 areeffective to move the respective pawls into 'engagement with the teethof the respective ratchets for subsequent operation.

It is apparent that other variations in detail -of structure may besubstituted for instrumentalities depicted anddescribed herein withoutdeparting from the invention involved.

It will be understood that the forms of the devices embodied in theVdrawings attached hereto are intended to be illustrative of the exampleof the invention chosen for the purposes of this disclosure, and that itis the purpose of this application to cover all such changes andmodifications in this example which do not constitute departurefrom thespirit and scope of the invention embodied herein.

Iv claim:

1. In a device which includes indicia bearing means, a memben having aplate portion, rockabl'y supported below said means for verticalmovement toward and away from engagement with said means, means carriedby said member at one side thereof for supplying a strip of inkingribbon and a strip `of kpaper Yto extend between said plate portion andsaid indicia means, strip shifting means disposed at the opposite sideof said member comprising rotatablestrip engaging means carried by saidmember, ratchet :means coupled to said rotatable means, `pawl means,means independent of sa-id member supporting said pawl means inengagement with said ratchet means, said ratchet means and saidrotatable means being moved with said member, said pawl means actingwith said ratchet means during rocking movement of said member towardengagement with said indicia means to effect rotation of .said stripengaging. means and 4strip shift, said vpawl means being bulged with thebulge lying in the path of the periphery of said ratchet means duringmember movement toward engagement with` said indicia means, the bulge ofsaid pawl means being engaged by the periphery of said ratchet meansupon movement of said member beyond said strip shift to cam said pawlmeans out of acting engagement with said ratch- Asaid printing meansYcompletion of membermower-nentk toward said indicia means.

2.1In a -device which vincludes indicia bearing means, a member, havinga plate portion, rockablyl supported adjacent said means for movementtoward and away vfrom engagement with said means, rolls carried by saidmember at one side thereof for respectively supplying a strip of inkingribbon and a strip of paper to extend between said plate portion andsaid indicia means, strip shifting means disposed at the opposite sideof said member comprising upper 'and lower rotatable vvstrip engagingmeans carried by said memben'ratchet means carried by said member andcoupled to said rotatable means, upper and lower pawl means, meansindependent of said member supporting said pawl means in engagement withsaid ratchet means, said pawl means acting with said ratchet meansduring rocking movement of said member toward engagement with saidindicia means to effect concurrent rotation of said strip engaging meansand strip shift, said pawl means being bulged with the bulge lying inthe path of the periphery of said ratchet means during member movementtoward engagement with said indicia means, the bulge of said pawl meansbeing engaged by the periphery of said ratchet means upon movement ofsaid member beyond said strip shift to concurrently cam said pawl meansout of acting engagement with said ratchet means to interrupt said stripshift, prior to completion of member movement ktoward engagement Withsaid indicia means.

3f. Ribbon feed means for use in a vdevice which includes printingmeans, plate means beneath for supporting an overlying tape-like recordystrip to receive printing from said printing means, means respectivelypositioned on opposite sides of-said printing means, to support an inkedribbon between a supported said record strip and said printing means,and means rockably supporting said strip-supporting means for swingingmovement into engagement with said printingmeans, said feed meanscomprising rotatable means associated with said ribbon supporting means,aratchet mounted on said rotatable means, a pawl, means pivotallysupporting said pawl inengagement between the teeth of said ratchet toeffect rotation of said rotatable means and advancement of said ribbonupon swinging movement of said platei'toward and prior to engagementwith said printing means, saidv ypawl including a bulged portionpositioned at an intermediate point in the path of the teeth of saidratchet to abut the periphery Vof said ratchet during continuation ofsaid plate swinging movement, saidl abutment being effective -to camsaid pawl out of ratchet advancing engagement to interrupt ribbonadvancement.

4. Ribbon roll feed means for use in a device which includes printingmeans, plate means beneathv said printing means for supportingr an etmeans to interrupt said strip shift, prior to overlying tape-like recordstrip to receive printing, ribbon rolls respectively positioned onopposite sides: of said printing means to support an inked ribbonbetween a supported said record stripand saidprintingv means, and meansrockably supporting said strip-supporting means for swinging movementinto engagement with said printing means, said ribbon roll feed meanscomprising a shaft attached to and supported by said strip supportingmeans, one of said ribbon rolls being mounted on said shaft, a ratchetmounted on said shaft, a pawl, means pivotally supporting said pawl inengagement between the teeth of said ratchet to effect advancement ofsaid ribbon rolls upon initial swinging movement of said plate towardengagement with said printing means, said pawl including a bulgedportion positioned at an intermediate point in the path of the teeth ofsaid ratchet to abut the periphery of said ratchet during continuationof said plate swinging movement, said abutment being effective to camsaid pawl out of ratchet advancing engagement to interrupt ribbon rolladvancement.

5. Record strip feed means for use in a device which includes printingmeans, plate means for supporting an overlying tape-like record strip toreceive printing, and means rockably supporting said strip-supportingmeans for swinging movement into engagement with said printing means,said record strip feed means comprising a cover connected to said platemeans, a strip receiving slot positioned at a junction of said cover andsaid plate for the insertion of a record strip therethrough to underliesaid cover, a shaft attached to and underlying said cover adjacent saidslot, feed roll means carried by said shaft and positioned tofrictionally engage an inserted record strip, a ratchet mounted on saidshaft, a pawl, means pivctally supporting said pawl in engagementbetween the teeth of said ratchet to effect advancement of said feedroll means upon swinging movement of said plate means toward engagementwith said printing means, said pawl including a bulged portion,positioned at an intermediate point in the path of the teeth of saidratchet to abut the periphery of said ratchet during continuation ofsaid plate swinging movement, said abutment being effective to cam saidpawl out of ratchet advancing engagement to interrupt feed rolladvancement.

6. Record strip feed means for use in a device which includes printingmeans, means for supporting a tape-like record strip to receiveprinting, and means roclably supporting said stripsupporting means forswinging movement into engagement with said printing means, said recordstrip feed means comprising feed roll means positioned to frictionallyengage said record strip, a shaft supporting said feed roll means, aratchet mounted on said shaft, a pawl, means pivotally supporting saidpawl in engagement between the teeth of said ratchet to effectadvancement of said feed roll means upon swinging movement of said stripsupporting means toward engagement with said printing means, said pawlincluding a bulged portion, positioned in the path of the teeth of saidratchet to about the periphery of said ratchet during continuation ofsaid swinging movement, said abutment being effective to carn said pawlout of ratchet advancing engagement to interrupt feed roll advancement.

7. Strip advancing means for use in a device which includes printingmeans, plate means for supporting an overlying tape-like record strip toreceive printing, means supporting an inked ribbon strip between asupported said record strip and said printing means, and means rockablysupporting said plate means for swinging upward movement into engagementwith said printing means, said strip advancing means including recordstrip feed means and ribbon strip feed means, said record strip feedmeans comprising a cover connected to and forming a continuation of saidplate means offset above the level of said plate means, a stripreceiving slot positioned at the junction of said cover and said platefor the insertion of said record strip therethrough to underlie saidcover, a shaft attached to and underlying said cover adjacent said slot,feed roll means carried by said shaft and positioned to frictionallyengage an inserted record strip, a second shaft attached to and spacedabove said plate means, part of said ribbon feed means being mounted onsaid second shaft, each said shaft having a ratchet mounted thereon,pawls respectively pivotally supported in engagement between the teethof said ratchets to effect concurrent rotation of said shafts andadvancement of said record and ribbon strips upon upward swingingmovement of said plate toward engagement with said printing means, saidpawls each including a bulged portion positioned in the path of theteeth of its related said ratchet to abut the periphery of said relatedratchet during continuation of said plate swinging movement, saidabutment being effective to concurrently cam said pawls out of ratchetadvancing engagement to interrupt record and ribbon strip advancement,prior to engagement with said printing means.

8. 1n a printing device, a substantially horizontal plate, meanssupporting said plate for vertical swinging movement, a ribbon windupspool, a shaft supporting said spool, said shaft being carried by andspaced above said plate, a ratchet fixed to said shaft, a pawl, fixedpivot means supporting said pawl, said pivot means being above the levelof said shaft and said pawl depending into engagement with the teeth ofsaid ratchet, spring means engaging and urging said pawl toward ratchetengagement, said pawl including a curved cam portion, upward swingingmovement of said plate moving said ratchet upwardly causing ratchetrotation while engaged with said pawl during an initial portion of saidswinging movement, said ratchet moving into engagement with said camportion upon continuation of said movenient and prior to completionthereof, engagement between said cam portion and ratchet shifting saidpawl and interrupting ratchet rotation prior to completion of saidswinging movement.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 571,028 Van Wye Nov. 10, 1896 748,854 Fisher Jan. 5, 1904918,555 Joslin Apr. 20, 1909 953,423 Kirkbride Mar, 29, 1910 1,249,917Dieschbourg Dec. 11, 1917 1,787,721 Carroll Jan. 6, 1931 1,937,145Gollwitzer Nov. 28, 1933 2,126,347 Ruttiman Aug. 9, 1938 2,241,102Turcl; May 6, 1941 2,304,386 Vahle Dec. 8, 1942 2,502,133 Elliott Mar.28, 1950

